1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Is America the land of the free? NO. Ohio? Maybe if you can do your jobs! On March 8, Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and recent grad student at Columbia, at his place of residence, an apartment building owned by the university. The DHS agents said that the State Dept revoked Khalil’s green card. “He has a green card,” an agent apparently said on the phone, confused by the matter. But then after a moment, the agent claimed that the State Department had “revoked that too.” "The agents proceeded to threaten his wife, telling her that if she remained by his side, they would arrest her too. The DHS agents stated that the U.S. Department of State had revoked Khalil's student visa, despite the fact that he has a green card, not a visa, and is a lawful permanent resident." I have so many questions but first and foremost it does not sound like these DHS agents had a warrant, and didn't even know Khali's immigration status (he does not have a student visa, he has a green card and is married to a US citizen) and also the State Dept does not issue or revoke green cards. In the U.S. you can be arrested or potentially deported for criticizing Israel. Terrifying and disgusting. DHS — whose officers conducted this detention — did not answer questions. It instead directed us to the White House. Did the White House order this arrest, detainment, and disappearing of this man? A spokesperson for Columbia said law enforcement agents must produce a warrant before entering university property. The spokesperson declined to say if the school had received a warrant for Khalil’s arrest. For a green card to be revoked, USCIS must provide a Notice of Intent to Revoke (NOIR) and the green card holder has the right to respond and potentially appeal the decision, ensuring due process. Mahmoud's attorney says they do NOT know where he is. They were first told he was sent to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, NJ. But when his 8-month-pregnant wife tried to visit him, she was told he's not there. They've received reports he may be sent as far away as Louisiana. If DHS can barge in, say your visa was revoked, be told you have a green card, say it's revoked too, and then disappear you so that neither your lawyer nor your family can find you, then all the guardrails are gone. There is no policy, practice, or law protecting anyone. DO YOUR JOBS TO BRING THIS MAN BACK TO HIS WIFE AND SOON TO BE BABY. If this stands then WE ARE NOT SAFE AND ARE IN A REGIME. Do something. Anything. A green card is LEGAL STATUS WHY WAS HE TAKEN AWAY? How will you keep Ohioans safe from being taken unlawfully from their homes and families? It is hard to be an American.